How to handle stress while being pregnant

I do not want this to be a woe me post . I need genuine advice on how to handle stress whilst being pregnant.

Things are getting on top of me lately. I am currently 19 weeks pregnant. Me and dh were not getting on when we found out I was pregnant although we were trying for about a year before ( which resulted in a miscarriage in the summer) anyway things have improved with us both and we are getting on. Today I find out our financial situation 'could' change for the worse soon. Nothing is finial yet but it's not looking good. When my youngest was born we got repossed and since we hit rock bottom we have slowly worked our way back up. I am finding my anxiety and stress levels are rocketing which I know aren't good for the baby. Any advice on how to de stress??

I'm so sorry you're going through that. I'm not sure how helpful I can be so I hope other more helpful people come along soon. All I can say is that if I'm stressed I call a friend or my mum to chat, I have a bath, I go for a walk, I distract myself with crappy chick lit books or I listen to my pregnancy relaxation CD. Something along those lines might take the edge off for you. Sorry again about what you're going through.

I think when bad stuff has happened in the recent past you are on red alert for more bad stuff to happen and you stress levels rockets quicker (thats what I find anyway). We went through an awful time when I was pg with DC2, it was touch and go whether or not to go on the anit-depressants (which I did do pp and they really helped).

The things that helped me were: Sticking to facts, not what if's, don't let your mind run away with stuff that could happen. Concentrate on what will happen and what you can do about it. If you are worried about money then look on here and see what help you might be entitled to.

Enjoy the good things that are in your life. Get out with friends away from home and have a break from it all, even a couple of hours can help...only positive friends though! Keep away from doom and gloom mongers or people who make you feel guilty.

Get out with your DH and DC1 for sunshine and fresh air.

Don't think too much about the distant future or dwell on stuff from too far back into the past. Certainly don't beat yourself up ad think well, if I'd done this differently then we wouldn't be here now.

Some very good advice from thereisnoeleventeen. I am my own worst enemy and panic and stress out about everything. I've had CBT so at least I know when I'm being irrational even if I can't banish all of my anxiety completely. CBT involves training your mind to look at the facts rather than what ifs...if anxiety is proving a real problem, it might be worth discussing with your GP/MW whether you can have CBT on the NHS. If this is something you don't fancy, you could try some simple relaxation techniques such as colour breathing- taking deep breaths and imagining that you are breathing in and out different colours; breathing in green and out magenta is meant to restore balance; it sounds daft, but it's helped me a bit. Yoga and swimming and other gentle exercise is also good along with listening to relaxing music...I've been listening to a lot of Vangelis...

At the end of the day, the most important thing is that you and your loved ones are healthy. Whatever else happens in life it is possible to recover from. Keep sight of the important things, try to have fun (especially as the better weather starts to arrive) and take joy in small things (picnics, walks in the park, a good film and home-made popcorn).

Thank you all for great advice. You are absolutely right in the sense of when something bad happened you are terrified of it happening again. My dh is telling me not to worry so I am trying to look at the positives in my life instead of the negatives. Thank you all again

I find when I get stressed and anxious to remember it is a spiral. Money problems worries can spiral out of control and turn in to big fears in such a short space of time. Catching it early can stop it ruining your day (and for me stopping it becoming a full blown anxiety attack.)

If you can find something to distract yourself with I recommend doing that even if it is just sticking the kettle on and trying to remember lyrics to a song (makes your brain focus on something else and can stop a tiny worry spiralling in to disaster mode). It sounds stupid but again it worked for me.

Try not to look on the negative side of things all the time as that dunt help. If you try and think positive then good things will happen. I always used to think the worst out of life and it just got me nowhere, ever since i started to think positive my lifes turned around. I do know what its like having anxiety as ive had severe mental health, but just try replacing those worrying bad thoughts with simething good. Money doesnt make you happy, aslong as theres enough for food n a roof over your heads its ok. Sure ive had my rough and very bad times but i still think to myself im doing great and i can get through this. Im not rich and i dint have much money but that doesnt bother me, theres more to life than worryring abiut money x